Description for Cerianna
Chemical Characteristics
CERIANNA contains fluoroestradiol fluorine 18 (F 18), a synthetic estrogen analog. Chemically, fluoroestradiol F 18 is [18F]16α-fluoro-3,17β-diol-estratriene-1,3,5(10). The molecular weight is 289.37, and the structural formula is:
 |
CERIANNA is a sterile, clear, colorless solution for intravenous injection, with an osmolarity of 340 mOsm. Its pH ranges between 4.5 to 7.0. The composition of the final product in 40 mL solution is fluoroestradiol no more than 5 μg, fluoroestradiol F 18 148 MBq/mL to 3,700 MBq/mL (4 mCi/mL to 100 mCi/mL), sodium ascorbate 0.44% w/v in sodium chloride 0.9% w/v, and ethanol no more than 3.2% w/v.
Physical Characteristics
CERIANNA is radiolabeled with F 18, a cyclotron produced radionuclide that decays by positron emission to stable oxygen 18 with a half-life of 109.8 minutes. The principal photons useful for diagnostic imaging are the coincident pair of 511 keV gamma photons, resulting from the interaction of the emitted positron with an electron (Table 2).
Table 2: Principal Radiation Produced From Decay of Fluorine 18 Radiation
| Radiation | Energy Level (keV) | % Abundance |
| Positron | 249.8 | 96.9 |
| Gamma | 511 | 193.5 |
External Radiation
The point source air-kerma coefficient for F 18 is 3.75 x 10-17 Gy m²/ (Bq s). The first half-value thickness of lead (Pb) for F 18 gamma rays is approximately 6 mm. The relative reduction of radiation emitted by F 18 that results from various thicknesses of lead shielding is shown in Table 3. The use of 8 cm Pb decreases the radiation transmission (i.e., exposure) by a factor of about 10,000.
Table 3: Radiation Attenuation of 511 keV Gamma Rays by Lead Shielding
| Shield Thickness cm of Lead (Pb) | Coefficient of Attenuation |
| 0.6 | 0.5 |
| 2 | 0.1 |
| 4 | 0.01 |
| 6 | 0.001 |
| 8 | 0.0001 |
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The safety of CERIANNA was evaluated from published clinical studies of 1,207 patients with breast cancer receiving at least one fluoroestradiol F 18 administration. The following adverse reactions occurred at a rate < 1%:
- General disorders: injection-site pain
- Neurological and gastrointestinal disorders: dysgeusia
Drug Interactions for Cerianna
Drugs that bind to the estrogen receptor (ER) may compete with the binding of fluoroestradiol F 18 and may reduce the detection of ER-positive lesions with CERIANNA.
Before administering CERIANNA, discontinue drugs that bind to the ER, such as SERMs and SERDs, for at least 5 biological half-lives (e.g., elacestrant for 11 days, tamoxifen for 8 weeks, and fulvestrant for 28 weeks) [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].
Warnings for Cerianna
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Precautions for Cerianna
Risk of Misdiagnosis
Inadequate Tumor Characterization and Other ER-Positive Pathology
Breast cancer may be heterogeneous within patients and across time. CERIANNA images ER and is not useful for imaging other receptors such as HER2 and PR. The uptake of fluoroestradiol F 18 is not specific for breast cancer and may occur in a variety of ER-positive tumors that arise outside of the breast, including from the uterus and ovaries. Do not use CERIANNA in lieu of biopsy when biopsy is indicated in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.
False Negative CERIANNA Scan
A negative CERIANNA scan does not rule out ER-positive breast cancer [see Clinical Studies (14)]. Pathology or clinical characteristics that suggest a patient may benefit from systemic hormone therapy should take precedence over a discordant negative CERIANNA scan.
Radiation Risks
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including CERIANNA, expose patients to radiation [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)]. Radiation exposure is associated with a dose- dependent increased risk of cancer. Ensure safe drug handling and patient preparation procedures to protect patients and health care providers from unintentional radiation exposure [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and (2.3)].
NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
No long-term studies in animals were performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of CERIANNA.
Mutagenesis
Fluoroestradiol was evaluated by in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) and in vitro L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma mutagenesis assay. Fluoroestradiol was negative for genotoxicity by Ames test at up to 1.25 µg per plate for 5 tester strains (Salmone la typhimurium tester strains TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537 and Escherichia Coli tester strain WP2 uvrA) in the presence or absence of S9 metabolic activation. Fluoroestradiol was negative for genotoxicity by L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma mutagenesis assay at up to 8 ng/mL in the absence or presence of S9 metabolic activation.
Potential in vivo genotoxicity of fluoroestradiol was evaluated in a rat micronucleus assay. In this assay, fluoroestradiol did not increase the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCEs) at 51 µg/kg/day, when given for 14 consecutive days. However, CERIANNA has the potential to be mutagenic because of the F 18 radioisotope.
Impairment of Fertility
No studies in animals have been performed to evaluate potential impairment of fertility in males or females.
Clinical Pharmacology for Cerianna
Mechanism Of Action
Fluoroestradiol F 18 binds ER. The following binding affinity: Kd = 0.13 ± 0.02 nM, Bmax = 1901 ± 89 fmol/mg, and IC50 = 0.085 nM, was determined in an ER-positive human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).
Pharmacodynamics
The relationship between fluoroestradiol F18 plasma concentrations and image interpretation has not been studied. Fluoroestradiol F18 uptake measured by PET in human tumors is directly proportional to tumor ER expression measured by in vitro assays.
Pharmacokinetics
Distribution
After intravenous injection, 95% of fluoroestradiol F 18 is bound to plasma proteins. Fluoroestradiol F 18 distributes primarily to hepatobiliary system, and also to small and large intestines, heart wall, blood, kidney, uterus and bladder.
Metabolism
Fluoroestradiol F 18 is metabolized in the liver. At 20 minutes after injection, approximately 20% of circulating radioactivity in the plasma is in the form of non- metabolized fluoroestradiol F 18. At 2 hours after injection, circulating fluoroestradiol F 18 levels are less than 5% of peak concentration.
Excretion
Elimination is by biliary and urinary excretion.
Patient Information for Cerianna
Radiation Risks
Advise patients of the radiation risks of CERIANNA [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Instruct patients to drink water to ensure adequate hydration prior to administration of CERIANNA and to continue drinking and voiding frequently during the first hours following administration to reduce radiation exposure [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].
Pregnancy
Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risks of fetal exposure to radiation doses with CERIANNA [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].
Lactation
Advise a lactating woman to avoid breastfeeding for 4 hours after CERIANNA administration in order to minimize radiation exposure to a breastfed infant [see Use in Specific Populations (8.2)].
© 2025 GE HealthCare
Distributed by GE Healthcare Inc.,
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 U.S.A.
GE is a trademark of General Electric Company used under trademark license.
From 
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.